As mentioned Dec. 5, the 75 percent IDA tax credit is a gift that keeps on saving. The Individual Development Account initiative helps low-income Oregonians learn financial skills to avoid
living paycheck-to-paycheck. For every $1 you give to The Neighborhood Partnership Fund, you'll get 75 cents
back via the credit, up to $75,000. Donations fund IDAs through CASA Oregon, Native American Youth and Family Center, Portland Housing Center, Umpqua CDC and Mercy Corps Northwest (small business IDAs).

It's a good way to gift stock that you don't want to take as a capital gain.

Oregonians often max out the Legislature allows each year to be taken by all taxpayers. It raised the limit from $6 million in 2007 to $8 million last year. But the corresponding market downturn took its toll. Total donations fell from $6 million in 2007 to $4.5 million last year, according to figures provided by program director Cynthia Winter. The number of stock contributions fell from 98 to 35.